Merritt Snowmobile Club helping out BC Trails Day

MERRITT – The third annual BC Trails Day is this weekend (June 3) and the Merritt Snowmobile Club is doing their part.

Simon Rizzardo, Vice-President of the Merritt Snowmobile Club, said they are participating in BC Trails Day.

“Our part of making sure the trails are maintained and make it into the winter good, we are going to be working with the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC with putting on BC Trails Day this Saturday. Many clubs across the province will be involved doing some sort of clean up or trail improvements. It’s all about making sure that our trails in the winter time or even mountain bike trails are well kept and safe passage for families and kids to get out there and enjoy the outdoors.”

BC Trails Day is all about being environmentally friendly.

“BC Trails Day celebrates and cares for our province’s stunning trail system, educates about responsible recreation and environmental stewardship, and helps all British Columbians enjoy trails and outdoor spaces,” wrote the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC.

Rizzardo echoes that message as he adds the trail system in the Nicola Valley has been around for years and wants it to stay that way.

“Leave no trace, that’s kind of the whole thing, we want to tread lightly, we want to make sure they will be there for a long time. The trails out there have been around since I have lived here and we want to keep that going for the next generation.”

For Trails Day, Rizzardo said everyone is invited to come out to Andys Lake on Saturday for trail maintenance and lunch.

“We are going to have a couple loads of gravel being donated by Rock Solid Industries and some equipment up there with Nicola Rentals and from Arnica Contracting Inc. and we are going to spread out some gravel and some of the root systems to protect it to make it so it’s passible.”

The cleanup begins at around 8:30 a.m. and will go until everybody has had enough.